The adulteress (24 page)

Jethro knew that I was coming and I guessed he would be on the lookout for me. I was right. He was.

"Oh, you've come, Mistress Zipporah," he said. "I'm right glad about that."

"Thanks for sending your grandson. What's going on at Eversleigh?"

"That's what I'd like to know. It's all a little odd ... if you'll forgive me saying so."

"What do you mean by odd?"

"I haven't seen his lordship since it happened. That must be well nigh on two months ago."

"Couldn't you slip in during those afternoons?"

"Well, I couldn't be sure of them. Amos Carew, he's more often at the house now."

"What. You mean he's moved in?"

"Not . . . not exactly. He's still got his house . . . the agent's house, you know. Oh yes, he's still there, but more often at the Court."

"You mean he sleeps there."

"'Twould seem so, Mistress Zipporah. I've seen him coming out in the morning."

"And that is since Lord Eversleigh's seizure?"

"That's right. They never called in Dr. Forster."

"Dr. Forster?" I repeated. The name seemed vaguely familiar.

"He's the new doctor here," went on Jethro. "Been here a year or two now. People like him. He's good, they say. But he wasn't called in to the Court. His lordship sent for his own man."

"Dr. Cabel," I said. "Had he ever visited Lord Eversleigh before?"

"No. Seemingways—so I heard from some of the girls up at the Court—Dr. Cabel was an old friend of his lordship and he sent for him and he being retired from his doctoring like, he stays. They say his lordship won't trust anyone else."

"That is what Jessie Stirling told me. Well, Jethro, what is strange about all this? It seems Lord Eversleigh has had a stroke, as many people do at his age, and he has called in his own doctor."

"I don't know what it be, Mistress Zipporah, but there's something strange about it. I've never been allowed to see his lordship since."

"He has to be kept quiet, I'm told."

"Still, I'm not that noisy. I reckon he'd like to see me. He always did. He'd sleep in the afternoons sometimes and never minded being wakened. He used to say 'Come when you can, Jethro, and if I'm dozing wake me.' I tried to see him ... I crept up there. I know Jessie was out . . . and where, and Dr. Cabel he was out too. . . . But I couldn't get into see his lordship though I tried."

"You mean you went up to his room?"

Jethro nodded. "The door was locked. It was almost as though they were expecting someone to call. I thought it was odd, Mistress Zipporah. And one of the maids who's rather friendly with my grandson told him that Jessie cleans the room herself and none of them is allowed to go in."

"Well, mightn't that be that he is so ill she doesn't want him disturbed?"

"That's as might be but Jessie was one who never liked to sully her hands and I doubt they'd made contact with a broom for many a long day." Jethro frowned. "Now I talk of it to you, Mistress Zipporah, it sounds all natural like. It was when I was brooding on it to myself that there seemed something wrong. I hope I haven't upset you like . . . bringing you here. . . ."

"You did absolutely right, Jethro. It is as well that I'm here and can find out from Dr. Cabel how my uncle really is."

He looked relieved. I said to him: "What else has been happening here? It seems to be just the same at the Court, except that Lord Eversleigh is so ill they have had to call in a resident doctor, and Amos Carew visits the house more often."

"Oh, there's Evalina."

"What happened to her? Isn't she there now?"

"She married."

"Oh . . . and she's gone away?"

"Not far. You remember Grasslands."

"Yes, of course, it's the rather big house . . . close to En-derby."

"That's right. Well, she went as housekeeper to old Andrew Mather. In a few months she'd married him."

"Oh," I said, "so Evalina is mistress of Grasslands."

"A regular little madam she is now. Rides round in her carriage. They say that she fooled the old man good and proper; warmed his bed for him and wormed her way in till she'd got him where she wanted him. She's learned a trick or two from her mother."

"What about Enderby?"

"The Forsters are there."

"Oh yes, I remember. I did meet them when I was here once."

"Dr. Forster, whose got his practice in the town, is related to them. He's at Enderby quite a bit, though he has a house in the town."

"Things have really happened since I was last here. I shall keep in touch with you and if you discover anything that you think I should know do tell me. I'll call on you again. First I have to see Dr. Cabel. There's a lot I want to know about my uncle."

I left Jethro and went back to the house. I went to my room and had not been there very long when there was a knock on the door.

It was Jessie.

"Dr. Cabel is here now. He's so pleased you've come. Will you come down now and see him?"

"With pleasure."

Eagerly I followed her to one of the small sitting rooms, where Dr. Cabel was waiting for us. He rose and bowed as I entered. He was of tall and commanding appearance and looked every inch the medical man. He was by no means young but he gave the appearance of carrying his years lightly. I guessed he must be some five or ten years younger than my uncle.

"Mistress Ransome," he said taking my hand, "how glad I am that you have come. I have been saying for some time that you should be sent for."

"How is my uncle? Is he very seriously ill?"

Dr. Cabel lifted his hands and let them sway from one side to another. "He is," he said, "and he isn't. If you mean could he pass away at any moment, the answer is yes . . . but then so could we all. If you say will he live another six months, a year . . . two years . . . even three . . . well, that could be possible. He has, as I think you know, had a seizure. He is not a young man. But he has survived . . . and there are indications that he may go on surviving."

"There seems to be very little certainty."

Dr. Cabel shook his head. "Mind you," he said, "you will see a great change in him. I hope you are prepared for that, dear lady. He is paralyzed down one side ... as often happens in seizures of this nature. His left hand is useless ... he cannot walk even a few steps ... his speech has been impaired . . . and you will find certain changes in his appearance. I'm afraid you will be a little shocked at the sight of him. Don't let him see it. It would upset him. At times he is lucid ... at others naturally he wanders a bit. He needs very careful nursing. He is fortunate in having Mistress Stirling on the spot."

"I do my best," said Jessie casting down her eyes. "There's such a change. . . ." Her voice faltered. "He used to be so . . ."

"He has a great determination to hold on to life," said the doctor quickly. "The fact that he has come through as he has shows this. We must be careful not to overexcite him. If you will excuse me a moment I will go to his room and if all is well I should like you to come up."

He rose and left us.

"He's a good man," said Jessie. "Mind you, he likes to give the orders. Sometimes he'll keep me out of the room. But there you are, he's the doctor. I suppose we have to do as he says."

I was silent. Dr. Cabel had made me feel that my uncle was in good hands.

He returned shaking his head.

"He's sleeping," he said. "He usually does at this hour. I'll go up again in ten minutes. I want him to wake naturally."

Dusk had crept into the room. We were silent for a few moments. Then the doctor said: "Do you intend to stay long, Mistress Ransome?"

"I am not sure. My husband is not really well and we have recently had a change of managers. Then there is my young daughter. . . ."

"Of course ... of course. I see you have your responsibilities. I would keep you informed of Lord Eversleigh's condition. He could go on like this for a very long time."

"And it seems as if I can be of little help here."

"Oh, I'm sure it do him good to see you," said Jessie smiling at me.

"If he knows you . . . yes," said Dr. Cabel.

"You think he might not . . . ?"

The doctor lifted his hands and swayed them from side to side again. "Well, we know how he is, don't we, Mistress Stirling? There are times I think when he doesn't know even you."

"It's true," said Jessie, "and I'm silly enough to let that hurt a bit. ... He was always . . ."

Dr. Cabel put his head on one side and looked at me quizzically.

He was a man of many gestures; immersed as I was in the state of my uncle's health I could not help noticing this. But he did exude an air of comfort and efficiency.

After a while he said he would look in again. It was dark now and he took a candle to light himself up the stairs.

"He keeps us all in order," said Jessie when he'd gone. "Sometimes you'd think he owned the place. But I turn a blind eye for I reckon he's done a lot for Lordy."

Dr. Cabel came down and nodded to me.

"Come now," he said.

I followed him up the stairs, Jessie keeping up the rear.

Outside my uncle's door Dr. Cabel turned to me. "You can't stay long. I'll give you a sign when I think he has had enough. Then I shall want you to slip away."

Quietly he opened the door and we tiptoed in. Two candles were burning on the shelf over the carved fireplace.

The curtains were half drawn about the big four-poster bed, shutting out much of the little light there was.

Dr. Cabel gently drew back one of the curtains and beckoned to me. I approached the bed. He was lying there with his eyes closed. He wore a nightcap which was pulled forward over his forehead. I had been warned but I was deeply shocked. I thought of him as I had last seen him; I remembered particularly those lively dark eyes. Now they were shut and he seemed only half alive. The skin was the same parchment color as I remembered—dry and wrinkled.

His hand was lying on the counterpane and I recognized the heavy signet ring which he had always worn.

"Take his hand," whispered Dr. Cabel.

I did so. I felt the faintest pressure.

"Uncle," I whispered.

His lips moved and there was a whisper. I thought it was: "Carlotta."

"He's trying to speak to you," said Dr. Cabel.

"He thinks I'm my great-grandmother. He did sometimes."

"Tell him you've come to see him. Tell him you've been thinking of him."

"Uncle Carl," I said, "I have come to see you. I hope we shall be able to talk while I'm here."

I lifted the hand and kissed it. I noticed the smudge of brown near the thumb. He had once drawn my attention to it and called it one of the flowers of death. "Old people get them," he had said. "It means youth is over."

I felt overcome by emotion.

Dr. Cabel touched my arm lightly and nodded significantly.

He meant I must go.

I turned and was led out of the room.

Outside the door Dr. Cabel lifted the candle so that the light fell on my face.

"It was a shock," he whispered. "I told you to be prepared."

Jessie patted my arm.

"He might be a bit better tomorrow," she said. "What do you think, doctor?"

"That's so. He's been told you're here. He might remember tomorrow ... I think he was pleased to see you. You've done him good."

"He pressed my hand," I said.

"And he tried to speak. That's a good sign. Oh yes. Even though he mistook you for someone else. He was way back in the past. That was good . . . very good."

"I'm glad I've seen him," I said. "I think I'll go to my room. I'm rather tired."

"Yes, do," said Jessie. "I'll come along with you just to make sure everything's all right. Doctor, light us to a candle will you."

There were candles in various places about the house in case they were needed. I later realized that the servants placed them there an hour before dusk and collected them in the mornings.

We found two on a chest along the corridor and I said good night to Dr. Cabel, who went downstairs, and Jessie and I went to my room.

She lighted the four candles which had been put there for my use and looked round the room.

"You'll sleep well," she said. "You must be well nigh exhausted. Nothing for tiring you like traveling. What did you think of him? Did you expect to see him like that?"

"You had told me," I said.

"When I think of what he was . . . and now lying there . . . it's tragic."

She blinked as though to hide a tear. I thought: Well, I suppose she is uneasy. If he died her comforts here would stop.

"If there's anything you should want," she said.

"Thank you."

"Well, then, I'll say good night."

She went out. I looked at the door. I saw the key was there.

I unpacked a few of my things. The room seemed full of shadows . . . eerie, menacing even. I remembered vividly arriving here on that night . . . before I had met Gerard . . . before Lottie was conceived.

I locked the door and undressed. I tried to sleep but I found that impossible. There were too many memories here for my

peace of mind; and I could not get out of my mind that of that poor old man lying there . . . the gentle pressure of his fingers . . . the name Carlotta . . . slurred, barely audible.

The sun was streaming into my room when I awoke next morning. I had slept late.

Almost as soon as I opened my eyes a maid came in bringing hot water.

She said: "Mistress Stirling said to let you sleep on. She reckoned you was worn out."

"What time is it?"

"Eight of the clock, mistress."

And I usually rose at seven!

I dressed and went downstairs. Jessie was in the hall in conversation with Dr. Cabel.

"How is Lord Eversleigh this morning?" I asked.

"Not so well," said the doctor. "I think he was overexcited about your coming."

"I'm sorry."

"You mustn't be. He's delighted really . . . but of course any excitement is not good for him. We'll go a little carefully. Leave him alone for today. He's sleeping now. I've given him something to steady him."

"I suppose I'd better not go in to dust round," said Jessie. And to me: "I do it myself. I don't want any of them girls banging around."